Texas remains focused on enacting distracted driving laws
Texas has long been one of the few states in the country that has refused to pass a statewide ban on texting while driving. The most recent efforts to pass such a law were vetoed by Governor Rick Perry, and some feel that a new administration may be more inclined to enact a texting ban.
The issue remains a serious problem on Texas roadways. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reports that 459 people were killed in car accidents caused by distracted drivers in 2013, and this is a four percent increase over 2012 numbers. While some cities have decided to pass their own restrictions regarding cellphone use, Dallas currently has no such laws in effect, meaning that it may take a statewide ban before any changes are made in the city.
Legislators have pledged to renew their attempts to have distracted driving laws put in place in the next session, which takes place in 2015. The problems caused by distracted drivers have received additional attention in the media, and this could result in greater public support for the ban in Texas.
Several of these distracted driving accidents have occurred in construction work zones. TxDOT states that there were 17,000 of these kinds of accidents in work zones in 2013, resulting in over 100 deaths. This includes not only the occupants of the vehicles, but also potentially workers in the area.
TxDOT has kicked off a new campaign to increase awareness about potential problems in these danger areas. Drivers are reminded to keep their eyes on the road at all times in work zones, as there are several things that may be happening that could cause the driver to have to make a quick maneuver to avoid a collision.
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in Texas, you should contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney can immediately begin work on investigating your accident, and learning more about the responsible parties. This will allow you to gain a better understanding of the compensation that may be available in your situation.
You do not want to make any decisions before you speak with someone who has experience handling car or truck accident cases. There are many factors that need to be considered when deciding whether or not to accept a settlement offer, and if you accept an offer too soon, you could be prohibited from obtaining additional compensation should the damages be more extensive than originally estimated. You need someone who can explain your options and help you make the right decisions about your case.
